Basement Wall Insulation Vapor Barrier

When a vapor barrier is on the side of a wall where the dry air is i e outside in winter or inside in summer moisture problems can occur.

Basement wall insulation vapor barrier.

A vapor barrier reduces the movement of water vapor by. For reference my basement is currently finished with concrete exterior walls then charcoal colored wrap material there seems to be an inch or two between this wrap and the exterior walls then stud framing with r12 batt insulation between the studs then a vapor barrier and finally drywall on top of the vapor barrier. Not every wall does. Plastic specifically 6 mil polyethylene plastic is.

So we thought it might be a good idea to clear up some of the confusion. Is it ok to add this vapor barrier. It is for a bathroom with a tiled shower. Vapor barriers are sheets of plastic or other material placed on one side of insulation sheets.

This barrier is meant to keep moisture from getting to the insulation in the walls and ceilings and it is required by building codes when insulating most houses. A vapor retarder is a material used to prevent water vapor from diffusing into the wall ceiling or floor during the cold winter. After the insulation is in place you will want to add a vapor retarder sometimes called a vapor barrier if you need one. Not to be confused with a vapor barrier which is placed on the warm side of the wall just in front of the insulation and behind the drywall a moisture barrier goes against the basement wall.

I live in central ontario canada. My basement wall is insulated with a 2 inches of styrofoam on the interior and i built a 2 4 wall and added roxul insulation. We ve written several articles about basement insulation and a cost effective approach to basement insulation using foam board and fiberglass insulation since writing those articles we ve received quite a few questions about when to use a basement vapor barrier and when not to. In any case the vapor barrier must point to the warm side.

I planned to install vapor barrier on top. Basement vapor barrier and insulation. The material is stapled to the frame of a basement wall before it is finished with plaster or drywall. A vapor barrier is also helpful to keeping a basement insulated and warm.

Joe says in the article plastic vapor barriers really are vapor barriers when things get wet. Whether or not you need a vapor retarder hinges on three main factors. A vapor barrier s job is to keep water vapor in humid air from diffusing through one side of a wall and finding a cool surface inside the wall. Without a vapor barrier in place condensation inside the walls could ruin the insulation and promote the growth of harmful mold and bacteria.

Polyurethane sheeting is a typical vapor barrier that contractors use to prevent moisture from penetrating the walls of a basement. The wetter it gets the better it dries.